On the class wiki site, post your favorite new Web 2.0 tool that has not been covered in detail in this class that you have discovered in this course or elsewhere. List the URL, what the tool is, and why you find it useful using the wiki template page. No duplication allowed-each page must be an original new tool. This can be done after reviewing the Unit 9 material, which covers more Web 2.0 resources.
Timetoast is a web 2.0 tool where users can view various types of timelines or can create a timeline of their own. Visitors can create an account under the "free plan" with a unique username or signing in with a FaceBook account. Premium users must pay a fee to access and use all the features of this website. For free users you are still able to create their own timeline using many of the available design features on the website or users can view already made timelines under various categories. Creating your own timelines on timetoast is very easy and can be completed within minutes. This website does not have any major advertisements. This website allows for easy sharing of content. Social media icons are placed in different places across the website to allow for sharing of your work on social media websites and after finishing a timeline they provide the option of choosing different additional sharing platforms. I would say that this website does allow for collaboration because your work can be posted publicly on the website so others can view your timeline and can make possible suggestions to your timeline and you can chose to make changes to your timeline. Although there isn't a specific section for teachers and one for students, the content available and timelines that can be created can be beneficial to both parties. This website without question is appropriate for use in schools and is appropriate for use by students. I could see more benefits for middle school and secondary educators and their classrooms but I could also see it being appropriate for elementary classrooms for elementary teachers.
Educational Uses of Site
This site I feel is useful for educators of all grade levels across the subject spectrum because this web 2.0 isn't subject specific, it is completely customizable. For example, an English teacher can create a biography timeline on an author they are covering in their class, and a Social Studies teacher can create a timeline on the Revolutionary War. I have assigned my students a project where they needed to do a research project on a country and one of the parts of the assignment was creating a timeline on the history of the government of that particular country. Another example for my American Civics class I had the students create a timeline showing the evolution of the political parties of the United States. I found this website to be very easy for my students to create these timelines. For a student they can use this website to create a timeline perhaps for something relating to their personal life such as a personal timeline of their life, or something like that. Since it is customizable these timelines can be created for whatever use the user wishes to use it for.
Review of Site
Timetoast is a web 2.0 online tool that I have found to be very useful for me as a Social Studies educator. The simplistic layout of this website makes it very easy to navigate your way around the website. Creating an account on this website takes just minutes to do which is definitely a major positive of this website. I have used this online program in my classroom and have found it to be effective in helping students in particular with dates and events. Some students struggle with these and by having a visual timeline, I have found many of my students to respond positively to this. Many of the categories on timetoast are also education-related so many of these already-made timelines in categories such as Politics, History and Biography can be very useful for educators and students alike. I feel educators of all subject matters can appreciate the benefits of this tool and could find ways to incorporate this web 2.0 tool into their classroom such as assigning a student project where they need to create an original timeline. I would definitely recommend this tool for educators.
Unit 6.2A Assignment
On the class wiki site, post your favorite new Web 2.0 tool that has not been covered in detail in this class that you have discovered in this course or elsewhere. List the URL, what the tool is, and why you find it useful using the wiki template page. No duplication allowed-each page must be an original new tool. This can be done after reviewing the Unit 9 material, which covers more Web 2.0 resources.
Student Name:
Justin CardamoneTitle of Site:
timetoastURL:
http://www.timetoast.com/Description of Site:
Timetoast is a web 2.0 tool where users can view various types of timelines or can create a timeline of their own. Visitors can create an account under the "free plan" with a unique username or signing in with a FaceBook account. Premium users must pay a fee to access and use all the features of this website. For free users you are still able to create their own timeline using many of the available design features on the website or users can view already made timelines under various categories. Creating your own timelines on timetoast is very easy and can be completed within minutes. This website does not have any major advertisements. This website allows for easy sharing of content. Social media icons are placed in different places across the website to allow for sharing of your work on social media websites and after finishing a timeline they provide the option of choosing different additional sharing platforms. I would say that this website does allow for collaboration because your work can be posted publicly on the website so others can view your timeline and can make possible suggestions to your timeline and you can chose to make changes to your timeline. Although there isn't a specific section for teachers and one for students, the content available and timelines that can be created can be beneficial to both parties. This website without question is appropriate for use in schools and is appropriate for use by students. I could see more benefits for middle school and secondary educators and their classrooms but I could also see it being appropriate for elementary classrooms for elementary teachers.Educational Uses of Site
This site I feel is useful for educators of all grade levels across the subject spectrum because this web 2.0 isn't subject specific, it is completely customizable. For example, an English teacher can create a biography timeline on an author they are covering in their class, and a Social Studies teacher can create a timeline on the Revolutionary War. I have assigned my students a project where they needed to do a research project on a country and one of the parts of the assignment was creating a timeline on the history of the government of that particular country. Another example for my American Civics class I had the students create a timeline showing the evolution of the political parties of the United States. I found this website to be very easy for my students to create these timelines. For a student they can use this website to create a timeline perhaps for something relating to their personal life such as a personal timeline of their life, or something like that. Since it is customizable these timelines can be created for whatever use the user wishes to use it for.Review of Site
Timetoast is a web 2.0 online tool that I have found to be very useful for me as a Social Studies educator. The simplistic layout of this website makes it very easy to navigate your way around the website. Creating an account on this website takes just minutes to do which is definitely a major positive of this website. I have used this online program in my classroom and have found it to be effective in helping students in particular with dates and events. Some students struggle with these and by having a visual timeline, I have found many of my students to respond positively to this. Many of the categories on timetoast are also education-related so many of these already-made timelines in categories such as Politics, History and Biography can be very useful for educators and students alike. I feel educators of all subject matters can appreciate the benefits of this tool and could find ways to incorporate this web 2.0 tool into their classroom such as assigning a student project where they need to create an original timeline. I would definitely recommend this tool for educators.